# Road songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 5, 2007, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984 "2007-02-05T21:49:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/1 "2007-02-05T21:49:51Z")
It seems like every band or singer has them: songs about life on the road, going town to town and playing the music they love for their fans. Off the top of my head I’ve got: • The Load Out/Stay – Jackson Browne • Homeward Bound – Simon & Garfunkle • Against the Wind – Bob Seger • Rock and Roll Band – Boston • The Entertainer – Billy Joel What ones can you come up with? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/2 "2007-02-05T21:53:47Z")
Route 66 Thunder Road Midnight Rider On the Road Again ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/3 "2007-02-05T22:04:23Z")
[QUOTE=erie774] It seems like every band or singer has them: songs about life on the road, going town to town and playing the music they love for their fans. Off the top of my head I’ve got: • The Load Out/Stay – Jackson Browne • Homeward Bound – Simon & Garfunkle • Against the Wind – Bob Seger • Rock and Roll Band – Boston • The Entertainer – Billy Joel What ones can you come up with? [/QUOTE] Shouldn’t the Seger one be “Turn the Page?” “Against the Wind” is more like a mid-life retrospective. Goin’ Mobile by The Who is somewhat of a road song: “Watch the police and the tax man miss me, I’m mobile.” ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/4 "2007-02-05T22:08:09Z")
Highway Song- Blackfoot Heading Out to the Highway- Judas Priest ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/5 "2007-02-05T22:10:13Z")
Maybe I wasn’t clear in my OP. I’m not looking for songs about hitting the road in general. I meant about the singer or band touring on the road. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/6 "2007-02-05T22:28:23Z")
Highway Song would still fit, the Priest song, no. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/7 "2007-02-05T22:35:12Z")
CCR’s “Travelin’ Band”? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/8 "2007-02-05T22:40:16Z")
[Truckin’](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/g/grateful+dead/truckin_20062376.html) - The Grateful Dead: _Sittin and starin out of the hotel window. Got a tip theyre gonna kick the door in again Id like to get some sleep before I travel, But if you got a warrant, I guess youre gonna come in._ [When I Need You](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/l/leo+sayer/when+i+need+you_20082745.html) - Leo Sayer: _But you know I won’t be travelin forever Its cold out, but hold out, and do I like I do When I need you_ [What’s Your Name](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/l/lynyrd+skynyrd/whats+your+name_20086166.html) - Lynyrd Skynyrd: _9 oclock the next day And Im ready to go I got six hundred miles to ride To do one more show, oh no_ [Travelin’ Band](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/creedence+clearwater+revival/travelin+band_20034317.html) - Creedence Clearwater Revival _Playin in a travelin band. yeah! Well, Im flyin cross the land, tryin to get a hand, Playin in a travelin band._ [200 More Miles](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/cowboy+junkies/200+more+miles_20033703.html) - Cowboy Junkies _Atlanta’s a distant memory Montgomery a recent blur And Tulsa burns on the desert floor Like a signal fire_ ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/9 "2007-02-05T22:45:13Z")
Also by Cowboy Junkies, [Townes’ Blues](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/cowboy-junkies/townes-blues.html), about an unlucky roadie. \*…Boulder looks like the type of town That I could spend some time, But in Houston they got our name in lights You’re clean as a widow woman’s washboard, son, The slab is yours tonight Townes is in the back lounge With his hands in his pocket Pulls out two dice and says, “Let’s get at it”…\* ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/10 "2007-02-05T22:57:44Z")
How about: Lynyrd Skynyrd: “Sweet Home Alabama” _Big wheels keep on turnin’ Carry me home, see my kin Singin’ songs about the Southland Miss old family once again…_ Journey: “Faithfully” ._…Circus life Under the big top world We all need the clowns To make us smile…_ Ian Hunter, with the humourous look at life on the road: “Once bitten twice shy” \*Well the times gettin hard for you little girl Im a hummin and a strummin all over gods world \* Sgt Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/11 "2007-02-05T23:01:57Z")
Speaking of unlucky roadies, there’s: [Tonight’s the Night](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/n/neil+young/tonights+the+night_20099218.html) - Neil Young: _Bruce Berry was a working man He used to load that econoline van. A sparkle was in his eye But his life was in his hands._ Things don’t tun out well for Bruce… And for another traveling band song, there’s: [Back on the Road](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/e/earth+wind+and+fire/back+on+the+road_20044629.html) - Earth, Wind, & Fire: _Since the day that my life began A band has been my true life plan Time to get back on the road Feel the music, take the stand_ ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/12 "2007-02-05T23:09:43Z")
The Kinks’ _The Road_: _Started playing blues in a coffee bar I took a trip down Charing Cross Road With my imitation Gretsch guitar And my head full of songs and my eyes full of stars I saw a band called the Rolling Stones I thought, “that’s it, I’ll get a band, I’m leaving home, I’m out on the road.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/13 "2007-02-05T23:12:12Z")
[The Living Bubba](http://www.drivebytruckers.com/lyrics_gb.html#bubba) - Drive By Truckers: _Don’t give me no pity don’t give me no grief Wait til I die for sympathy Just help me with this amp and a guitar or two I can’t die now cuz I got another show to do_ ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/14 "2007-02-05T23:25:50Z")
“My Home’s in Alabama” by Alabama “California Girls” by the Beach Boys ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/15 "2007-02-05T23:40:11Z")
Just thought of a couple others. Grand Funk Railroad: “We’re an American Band” _On the road for forty days, Last night in Little Rock put me in a haze…_ Also, CCR’s [“Lodi”](http://www.lyricsdownload.com/creedence-clearwater-revival-ccr-lodi-lyrics.html) _The man from the magazine said I was on my way. Somewhere I lost connections, ran out of songs to play. I came into town, a one night stand, looks like my plans fell through Oh ! Lord, Stuck in Lodi again._ Mmmm… If I only had a dollar, for ev’ry song I’ve sung. And ev’ry time I’ve had to play while people sat there drunk. You know, I’d catch the next train back to where I live.\* Sgt Schwrtz ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/16 "2007-02-06T03:16:31Z")
Another one from The Kinks, _“Motorway”_: > [@](#): > > Motorway food is invariably fried, > It keeps me and feeds me and helps me survive. > Oh that motorway, ain’t it a thrill to be so free, yeh, > Riding down the motorway, cats eyes, cold meat pies > Thousand on raft, cold French fries, > So tired, tired of livin’, tired of livin’ this motorway livin’… ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/17 "2007-02-06T03:31:01Z")
“Can’t Hardly Wait” – The Replacements ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/18 "2007-02-06T12:36:39Z")
_Making Memories_ by Rush Well you know we’re having good days And we hope they’re gonna last _What’cha Gonna Do_ by Cowboy Mouth St Louis, Hot Summer Got the sudden urge to call my number I feel it, another scene is going down down down _Wake_ by Emmet Swimming Play good soliders march in perfect rows Take discomfort silently ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/19 "2007-02-06T14:09:35Z")
_The Bride Stripped Bare by “Bachelors”_\* by the Bonzo Dog Band > [@](#): > > We arrived at the gig looking rough. > Not happy - we’d all had enough > Of 8 hours on the road. > Legs Larry said : “Ee it’s the boozer for me, dear boy” ---
**Author:** ![Smith8762](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Smith8762](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smith8762)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984/20 "2007-02-06T14:17:44Z")
[String Cheese Incident](http://www.stringcheeseincident.com/) Rhythm of the Road _Driving down the highway miles from home It’s been that way since the day we started to roam._ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-songs/390984.md?page=2)